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Betty Orton
Celebrating the Life of Betty Jane Orton-Cochran
Early in the morning of Wednesday, November 4, 2026, Betty Orton, in her 87th year, passed away peacefully at home. While we will grieve, we also celebrate her new journey. As she told her family, “I’m ready to meet Jesus.”
Betty leaves behind her husband Roger Cochran and her four daughters Wendy Orton, Jenny Orton (Tom Bell), Sherry Anderson (Dan), and Jody Overway (Craig). She was also a much-loved Grandma to eight grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren, each of whom brought her joy.
Betty was preceded in death by her parents, her siblings, and her first husband Sam Orton. Sam and Betty shared a marriage of 53 years until his passing in 2010. Their marriage was one of the great love stories.
Later in life, Betty found love again when she met Roger Cochran at Senior Golden CrossFit in Ludington. What began as a friendship grew into a relationship and eventually marriage. Together, they discovered the happiness of sharing life’s adventures, companionship, and love in a new chapter of life.
As we celebrate the life and wonder of Betty, we remember the many things that made her unique. Faith was the foundation of her life. She was a loving and committed member of Ludington Community Church, where her faith and fellowship were an important part of who she was. Her love of Jesus was evident not only in her words but in the way she lived her life.
Betty’s love of nativity sets wasn’t limited to Christmas! She collected and arranged these beautiful reminders of her faith throughout her home, displaying them all year long. They were more than decorations; they were expressions of what mattered most to her. Betty had a special love for the American flag and the pride and patriotism it represented. The flag lived within her gardens. These gardens were show-stoppers as Betty had a gift for making things grow in beautiful spaces. Seeds and starts were regularly shared with her daughters and friends. Her gardens reflected the care, patience, and love she put into so many things in life
Betty believed in the importance of nurturing, teaching, encouraging, and giving children opportunities to grow. The many young lives she touched are part of the legacy she leaves behind. Her daughters are regularly approached by former preschool and Headstart students, parents, and teachers expressing the positive influence she had on their lives. Many of these former students and parents maintained a lifelong friendship with Betty. Additionally, she fostered the joy of making arts and crafts as a 4-H leader, a Girl Scout leader, and a seamstress. She consistently made the world around her a little more beautiful.
And as we say goodbye, we find comfort in knowing that she was ready for the next chapter of her journey. Betty will be deeply missed and forever loved.
A ceremony to celebrate the life of Betty Orton will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, November 14 at Community Church in Ludington with her friend and Pastor, Brett Spaulding officiating. Friends may meet with her family prior to the services beginning at 10 a.m. Those who wish to remember Betty with a memorial donation are asked to please consider Community Church as this was Betty’s request.
Please visit Betty’s memory page at www.wymanfuneralservice.com to share a memory or a tribute of Betty with her family.
